Tucker Carlson's Break with Trump: GOP Rift Over Iran Deepens
Tucker Carlson has dramatically reversed his stance on Donald Trump, from praising his survival as divine intervention to intimating he might be the antichrist and condemning his Iran war policies as war crimes. Carlson's criticisms include allegations of moral failings, intentional bombing of civilians, and spiritual attacks, which Trump dismissed with a personal attack, calling Carlson low-IQ and cutting ties. This break highlights and worsens divisions within the Republican Party over the Iran conflict, with polls showing notable disapproval among Trump's voters on foreign policy. Carlson's influence, though diminished since his Fox News departure, remains significant in conservative media, aligning with other right-wing figures opposing the war. The incident marks a pivotal moment in conservative politics, potentially eroding Trump's support and party cohesion ahead of elections.
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In a dramatic reversal, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has launched his harshest critique of Donald Trump, suggesting the former president may be the antichrist and condemning his Iran war policies as war crimes, marking a significant split in conservative circles and intensifying Republican Party divisions.
Carlson's Shift from Praise to Condemnation
Twenty-one months ago, Carlson hailed Trump's survival of an assassination attempt at the 2024 Republican National Convention as "divine intervention." Now, on his show, he has implied Trump could be the antichrist, representing a stark rhetorical turn.
Key Criticisms Leveled by Carlson
Carlson's comments included several pointed allegations:
Christians should reconsider support for Trump after he allegedly invaded Venezuela for oil, calling it unacceptable to take others' property by force.
He labeled Trump's threats to Iran's civilian infrastructure as "a war crime, a moral crime" that would cause mass suffering.
He suggested the U.S. intentionally bombed an Iranian elementary school, though preliminary investigations indicated an accident.
He criticized Trump's vulgar Easter social media post threatening Iran as vile for mocking Islam and all religion.
He warned Trump might use a nuclear bomb on Iran and urged aides to block his access to nuclear codes.
He condemned Trump for not placing his hand on the Bible during inauguration, implying a rejection of Christian limits on behavior.
He posited Trump's actions could be a stealthy spiritual attack on Christian faith.
Trump's Response: Personal Attack and Disassociation
Trump retaliated by calling Carlson "a low-IQ person that has absolutely no idea what's going on" and stating he no longer deals with him, per the New York Post.
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Historical Context: Private Disdain and Early Skepticism
Private messages from the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit revealed Carlson previously called Trump "only good at destroying things" and said "I hate him passionately," deeming his first term a disaster. Carlson also expressed skepticism during the 2016 primaries.
Carlson's Current Influence and Political Ambitions
Since leaving Fox News, Carlson's reach is less measurable; a 2025 Pew study found only 9% of Republicans often get news from his network. However, he remains popular, with 70% of Trump voters favoring him in a 2024 poll, and he is seen as a potential presidential candidate who helped select JD Vance as Trump's 2024 running mate.
The GOP's Iran War Divide
Polling shows growing disapproval among Trump's base: 25% of his 2024 voters disapprove of his foreign affairs handling, 28% on Iran, and 45% on gas prices linked to the war. Carlson's critique gives anti-war supporters license to oppose Trump or skip midterms.
A Moment of Conservative Backlash
Carlson joins other influencers like Megyn Kelly, Joe Rogan, and Candace Owens in opposing the Iran war. Alex Jones even floated invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, underscoring a broader conservative rift.
